Guadalupe River Above Canyon Lake: Implementing a Plan to Protect Recreational UsesThe goal of this current project is to keep recreation safe in this segment of the river by reducing bacteria levels. The adopted TMDL and the approved I-Plan combined are the road map to improving water quality in the creek.http://www.tceq.com/waterquality/tmdl/nav/65-guadalupe/65-guadalupebacteriahttp://www.tceq.com/@@site-logo/tceqlogo-3colors.gif

The goal of this current project is to keep recreation safe in this segment of the river by reducing bacteria levels. The adopted TMDL and the approved I-Plan combined are the road map to improving water quality in the creek.

Project Overview

The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to protect the safety of recreational uses. High concentrations of fecal bacteria, which are naturally found in both human and animal waste, may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the creek—activities called “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.

Water quality testing conducted prior to 2006 indicated that concentrations of bacteria are sometimes too high in Segment 1806 of the Guadalupe River, the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake. The areas of concern were confined to two small assessment areas within the city of Kerrville: (1) one mile upstream of Flat Rock Dam to a confluence with Camp Meeting Creek, and (2) from RR 394 to one mile downstream.

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Beginning in 2014, assessment indicated that two tributaries to Segment 1806, Town Creek (1806E) and Quinlan Creek (1806D), sometimes have bacteria concentrations that are too high. Additional TMDLs will be developed for these creeks and added as an addendum in the state's Water Quality Management Plan.

Next Meeting

TCEQ will provide information on an addendum to add TMDLs for the Town and Quinlan Creeks to the original TMDL. The stakeholders will also review the I-Plan and history of its implementation, and discuss a timeline and process for possible revisions to the plan.

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Strategy

Bird deterrent net under a bridge over the Guadalupe River

The Guadalupe River Implementation Plan documents measures stakeholders are using to reduce bacteria loads. The City of Kerrville, Kerr County, and the Texas Department of Transportation have committed to partner with UGRA to implement these measures. Their strategy includes the following actions:

Modify the Highway 16 bridge to reduce wildlife nesting.

Reduce feeding of birds and manage the waterfowl population at Louise Hays and Kerrville-Schreiner parks.

Status

Assessment in 2014 indicates that the impaired portions of Segment 1806 are fully supporting the contact recreation use. However, the tributaries Quinlan Creek (Segment 1806D) and Town Creek (Segment 1806E) were added for nonsupport of contact recreation in 2014. Since the adopted TMDL was for the entire watershed, the TMDLs for these two tributaries will be added through an addendum in the state's Water Quality Management Plan.

Activities

As of March 2015, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority's Bacteria Reduction Plan had funded the installation of twenty-two pet waste stations in the community. In 2014, the Flat Rock Park pet waste stations collected over 1,900 pounds of waste, which prevented this waste from washing into the river.

Education and Outreach

This interactive kiosk, featuring the water education program Water Down the Drain, was installed in January 2013 at the Riverside Nature Center. The program guides users through several activities that teach how pollution can be washed into waterways, the effects of nonpoint source pollution, and what can be done to prevent it. This kiosk will be rotated among other public venues in the community.

Grant Funded Project to Support the I-Plan

The TCEQ's Nonpoint Source Program supported a project that implemented some aspects of the I-Plan. Its Upper Guadalupe project implemented controls of waterfowl and bird nesting under river bridges, as well as education about management of on-site septic systems.

Implementation Strategy

The state is coordinating a watershed protection plan with the TMDL implementation plan to improve water quality in the Upper Guadalupe River. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority is coordinating stakeholder participation.

The implementation strategy includes the following actions:

Reduce bird feeding at Louise Hays Park and Kerrville-Schreiner Park

Install bird exclusion and deterrent devices on the SH 16 and LP 534 bridges over the water

Manage the waterfowl population at Louise Hays Park and Kerrville-Schreiner Park

From time to time, it is necessary to revise TMDLs to account for changing conditions in the watershed, such as new or amended permits, or urban growth, or to correct oversights in the original TMDL report. Revisions to the load allocations in TMDLs are made via the state’s WQMP, which is updated quarterly.

The WQMP provides projected effluent limits for use in planning and permitting activities. The TCEQ reviews all applications for new and amended permits for conformance with applicable portions of the WQMP, including adopted TMDLs. Revisions to the TMDL are documented in the approved WQMP updates listed below.